Labor -- The New American Job

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 24, 2015

The Upshot; think tank City Observatory reports trend in which employment in cities has grown as employment in suburban areas has shrunk; steadily increasing urban job growth has expansive implications for policies governing employment, housing and transportation and raises question of whether benefits of thriving urban centers can benefit not only the affluent, but everyone else as well. MORE

Feb. 23, 2015

Tabitha Waugh, registered nurse in Huntington, West Virginia, epitomizes how the health care profession is increasingly providing inroads to the middle class as industrial jobs grow scarce; Waugh earns $27 per hour and has become main breadwinner for her family of four; health care industry now provides 4.5 million middle-class positions, up from just 1.4 million in 1980 (Series: A Shifting Middle). MORE

Feb. 22, 2015

Service industry employees are facing serious issue of exhaustion as restaurants, retailers and other businesses shrink time between shifts and cut staff to shave costs; many workers regularly work both late-night and early-morning shifts, leaving little time for family and sleep; pushback by labor advocates has resulted in legislative proposals in several states that would curb maximum number of work hours in a 24-hour period. MORE

Feb. 22, 2015

Rob Walker The Workologist column answers questions on doubts about a workplace nondisclosure agreement and how to deal with a 'toxic' reference. MORE

Feb. 17, 2015

Experts say government aid to people with incomes that are one-half to two times the poverty level has increased since 1983, but to those with incomes less than that it has diminished; shift reflects more conservative political environment and response to broader economic forces like globalization, advancing technology and workers' weakened bargaining strength. MORE

Feb. 16, 2015

New York City has created 425,000 jobs since late 2009, largest increase of any five-year period in 50 years; high percentage of new jobs are in hospitality or tech industries, rather than high-paying securities sector that city has often relied on to emerge from recession; some point to development as positive indicator that city can flourish independently of Wall Street. MORE

Feb. 7, 2015

Labor Department revises upward estimates of job gains in 2014 in November and December, adding additional 147,000 jobs, which brings number of jobs created in 2014 to total that is higher than any year since 1999; department reports employers added seasonally adjusted 257,00 jobs in January; uptick in employment, if it persists, could affect political debate in run up to 2016 presidential election, although analysts are uncertain that wage growth can be sustained. MORE

Feb. 7, 2015

Labor Dept's first jobs report of 2015 is decidedly upbeat, prompting even some harshest critics of Pres Obama to mute their economic criticism; both Democrats and Republicans remain wary about declaring that economic recovery is firmly on its way, though, as both parties are trying to use economic trends to bolster cases for their preferred policies. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Charles M Blow Op-Ed column raises concerns about continuing trend in which few women and minorities are pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees; warns trend could create a bigger gap in economic equality as STEM fields have more jobs and pay more, and could eventually result in stratified segregation. MORE

Feb. 1, 2015

Jerry McGill On Work column recalls his experience working summer jobs through programs that worked with disabled students; observes that programs gave him a strong sense of purpose. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

Eduardo Porter Economic Scene column observes that states' occupational licensing regulations can hobble economy, inflating price of goods and services and limiting access to good jobs across nation; cites significant inefficiency of New York City's taxi medallion system, which was upended by emergence of Uber car service app; questions whether public should continue bearing cost of professional licensing system in which only select few profit. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Retiring column; some older job seekers, wary of age discrimination in job market, are finding success at smaller organizations with spare staff that place higher value on their experience and expertise. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

Editorial welcomes exceptional strides in the labor market in 2014, but warns progress highlights important, ongoing weaknesses and risks; notes employment growth continues to lag behind population growth, and that December increase was largely concentrated in low-wage work; calls on new Republican majority to refrain from battles that could turn basic acts of governance into serial fiscal crises. MORE

Jan. 10, 2015

Republicans want to take credit for nation's improved economic conditions, factor that can significantly impact 2016 presidential election; Labor Dept reports that employers created 2.95 million jobs in 2014 and unemployment rate dropped to 5.6 percent. MORE

Dec. 25, 2014

Italy's cabinet approves parts of Prime Min Matteo Renzi's labor measure, known as Jobs Act, designed to revive Italy's labor market and bring in foreign investors; legislation will introduce new rules, including easing of restrictions that make it difficult to dismiss employees. MORE

Dec. 20, 2014

Authorities in South Carolina remove four men with intellectual disabilities from run-down bunkhouse in Newberry and place with them with social services; removal of men comes after report that Leon Jones, one of so-called Henry's Boys, Texas men with intellectual disabilities who were put to work in turkey plants, was living there. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Op-Ed article by part-time waitress and English instructor Brittany Bronson wonders why society looks at blue-collar work as far more inferior than white-collar work; describes her experience navigating between both jobs and shame she feels working as a restaurant server; argues that there is more similarity between these worlds than not. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

The Upshot; idea that generous welfare benefits and high taxes will lead fewer people to work is supported by both economic theory and intuition, but Scandinavian countries may prove argument wrong; some of the highest employment rates in the advanced world are in countries like Denmark, which, like its neighbors, has very high taxes and a very generous welfare system. MORE

Dec. 16, 2014

The Upshot; technological breakthroughs are enabling machines to do knowledge jobs and service jobs, in addition to factory and clerical work; digital technology has over 15-year period inserted itself into nearly every aspect of life even as job market has fallen into long malaise; many economists are not sure about whether technology will create as many jobs as it destroyed, which was the case with previous technological leaps (Series: Nonemployed). MORE

Dec. 15, 2014

Stockholm is attracting fast-growing tech start-ups but its housing shortage poses problems for engineers needing rental apartments; clash between booming tech industry and housing restrictions is common in other major technology hubs worldwide. MORE

Dec. 14, 2014

The Upshot; United States has fallen behind many European countries in terms of employment rate for women, category in which it was a world leader as recently as 1990; data indicates that shift has been at least partially caused by a lack of family-friendly policies in the workplace, with 61 percent of affected women citing family responsibilities as their reason for leaving jobs (Series: Nonemployed). MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Floyd Norris Off the Charts column observes employment is growing at fastest pace in years and unemployment rate has dropped to 5.8 percent; notes one reason for lower unemployment rate is fact that people, many under age 62, are dropping out of labor force; says coming year could show pickup in labor participation rates for prime age groups. MORE

Dec. 10, 2014

Labor Department reports that job openings increased by 3.2 percent to 4.83 million in October, the second-highest level in 14 years; figures add to evidence of improving economy. MORE

Dec. 7, 2014

Dan Barry This Land column reveals that Leon Jones, 64-year-old man with intellectual disability working in Newberry, SC, turkey plant, is last remaining member of so-called Henry’s Boys — men recruited from Texas institutions in 1960s to work in such plants; reforms have largely eliminated arrangement on grounds it amounts to abuse of the disabled. MORE

Dec. 6, 2014

Labor Dept reports total increase in payrolls of 2.6 million in 2014 with one month to go, putting United States on pace for best job growth since 1990s; employers added 321,000 jobs in November and average hourly earnings surged .4 percent as jobless rate stayed at 5.8 percent. MORE

Dec. 6, 2014

Editorial warns that, despite November's strong employment report, it is still too soon to conclude that labor market has found its footing; notes that hourly wage increases are not enough to make up for years of stagnation, and that most added jobs do not offer enough pay or hours to make a living. MORE

Dec. 6, 2014

Gail Collins Op-Ed column laments that Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act, bill that would require employers to make 'reasonable accommodations' for workers who become pregnant, has failed to gain traction in Congress except among some Democrats; observes that bill has popular support, but almost no one does anything about it because there is little to gain politically or financially by siding with working mothers. MORE

Dec. 6, 2014

Washington Memo; Pres Obama pauses before introducing Ashton B Carter, his nominee for defense secretary, to celebrate creation of 321,000 additional jobs in November; move is as close to victory lap on economy that Obama has taken. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

Indian Prime Min Narendra Modi's new government is minimizing regulation of industry and rewriting country's environmental laws in favor of economic growth; high-level committee assigned to redo legislation recommends relying on business owners to monitor themselves and to voluntarily reveal pollution generated by their projects; cleaner India is welcome but people are more concerned about getting jobs. MORE

Dec. 1, 2014

Supreme Court will hear case of Peggy Young, former United Parcel Service driver who was placed on unpaid leave after becoming pregnant; court's decision has potential to affect lives of millions of women, who make up 47 percent of labor force and often work during and late into their pregnancies. MORE

Dec. 1, 2014

Editorial holds Supreme Court has opportunity to cast blow against discriminatory treatment of pregnant woman as it hears case of former United Parcel Service worker Peggy Young against UPS; notes UPS claims it has the right to deny pregnant workers the flexibility it shows to workers with other conditions that limit their ability to perform; urges court to use plain reading of Pregnancy Discrimination Act to rule that pregnant workers can be treated no worse than other employees injured on the job. MORE

Nov. 29, 2014

Labor ministry of Saudi Arabia has enlisted Harvard's Kennedy School of Government to help find more jobs for women as part of broad project to get more Saudis to work; nation has long relied on foreign work force in private sector; effort to find jobs for women could have big implications for Saudi society. MORE

Nov. 26, 2014

Lower house of Italy's Parliament passes Prime Min Matteo Renzi’s Jobs Act; move clears way for final approval in the Senate of a law aimed at simplifying rules on hiring and firing; bill has been fiercely opposed by labor unions. MORE

Nov. 24, 2014

Many immigrants in technology industry say Pres Obama's executive order on immigration falls well short of what they were seeking; industry leaders' most pressing issues, like speeding up process for obtaining permanent residency and acquiring more visas for high-skilled technology work, would require act of Congress; some immigrants say Obama's action could potentially make life and work in the United States easier. MORE

Nov. 15, 2014

Floyd Norris Off the Charts column observes employment gains made by men since financial crisis; notes unemployment rate for men has dipped below that of women for the first time since 2006 and that number of private sector jobs held by men has reached a new peak. MORE

Nov. 15, 2014

Alina Tugend Shortcuts column discusses challenges employees with mental disabilities might face if they decide to tell their employer or supervisor about their illness; tips on what to consider before sharing psychiatric condition noted. MORE

Nov. 14, 2014

Labor Dept reports that companies ramped up hiring in September, employing over five million people, and that 2.75 million Americans were confident enough to quit their jobs, jump from 2.5 million; data hints at signs of economic improvement. MORE

Nov. 13, 2014

Op-Ed article by Professors Jacob E Gersen and Benjamin I Sachs holds country needs new labor laws for restaurant, farm and slaughterhouse workers, who play a critical role in nation's economic and public health systems; warns without such laws, country runs risk that workers, charged with producing our food, will be unable to protect public safety. MORE

Nov. 9, 2014

Hannah Seligson Workstation column observes that millennials are increasingly willing to quit one job before finding another; notes that they are motivated by ambition, upheaval in the economy and sense that it is the right time to take a risk. MORE

Nov. 9, 2014

Workers who deliver bags of coupons and circulars to residences across New York City are part of all-but-invisible army deployed by marketing companies on behalf of retail stores; workers, mostly Haitian immigrants who speak little English, are trying to make living from dwindling market. MORE

Nov. 8, 2014

Editorial asserts that slow but steady growth of American economy since economic recovery began in 2009 has had little positive effect on average worker; fears legislative agenda of Republican congressional majority, including corporate tax cuts and more deficit reduction, is likely to worsen financial inequality. MORE

Nov. 2, 2014

Chart documenting study by Burning Glass Technologies shows that many middle-skill career paths now require a bachelor's degree. MORE

Oct. 26, 2014

Veronique Greenwood On Work column recalls her experience working summer jobs for the Forest Service in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range; holds that work taught her the joys, and limitations, of the great outdoors. MORE

Oct. 24, 2014

David Brooks Op-Ed column highlights essay The New Challenge to Market Democracies, in which author William Galston posits that economic problems have eroded faith in political institutions; argues that public's malaise can be pinned down more precisely to dysfunctional and sickly labor market, but the political class is doing nothing to fix it. MORE

Oct. 21, 2014

Rachel L Swarns The Working Life column reports on Angelica Valencia, pregnant woman who was pushed out of her job in August when her doctor said she shouldn’t work overtime: her employer, Fierman Produce Exchange in the Bronx, says she may return to work immediately. MORE

Oct. 20, 2014

Rachel L Swarns The Working Life column on first anniversary of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act focuses on plight of Angelica Valencia of Queens, who was advised by her doctor not to work overtime shifts because of her high-risk pregnancy; fired from her job at Fierman Produce Exchange in the Bronx after submitting doctor's note, Valencia is using law to try and recoup lost wages. MORE

Oct. 19, 2014

Ginia Bellafante Big City column calls for examination of sexism experienced by women in restaurant industry; notes that tipped workers who are female are particularly subject to harassment because they depend directly on customers for their livelihood; points to data showing that more than 90 percent of female restaurant workers have experienced harassment. MORE

Resources from the U.S. Department of Labor

Multimedia

The types of jobs that pay middle-class wages have shifted since 1980. Fewer of these positions are in male-dominated production occupations, while a greater share are in workplaces more open to women.